Sources in Israel told Haaretz news that the two officials were supposed to meet Sunday but Abbas postponed the meeting because of increased violence in the Gaza Strip.

Abbas has said he'd like to negotiate a new Palestinian-Israeli cease-fire.

On Thursday, Abbas described the barrage of rockets being fired by Hamas militants in the West Banks on Israel as "pointless and needless," Haaretz reported.

Also Thursday, Hamas vowed to continue its Qassam strikes against southern Israel.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit the region after the Olmert-Abbas meeting. Haaretz reported that Rice was apparently waiting until after the Israeli Labor Party leadership primaries.

Rice postponed an earlier trip when Olmert and other Israeli leaders came under fire in a report about the war with Jerusalem.